Machine for producing knitted fabric



June 12, 1945. c. w. MINTON 2,378,316

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Aug., 12, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheetl l NV NTOR. arznc e WM? 00.

* ATTORNEYS.

June 12, 1945. c, w, MlNTON 2,378,316

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Aug. 12, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR. C/zrence W #770/7.

g 4 I ATTORNE s.

June 12, 1945. c. w. MINTON 2,378,316

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Aug. 12, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet3 INVENTOR.

C/arence W/W/n fan.

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/ ATTORNEYS June 12, 1945. Q w MlNTQN 2,378,316

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Aug. 12, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR.

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/ ATTORNEY June 12, 1945. c. w. MINTON MACHINE FOR PRODUCING KNITfIEDFABRIC Filed Au 12, 1942 a Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

WMb/on. gfl wad I ATTORNEYS.

Lk /arancz June 12, 1945. c. w. MINTON MACHINE FOR PRODUCING KNITTEDFABRIC Filed Aug. 12, 1942 8 SheetsSheet 6 INVENTOR. Czar-e066 14 M0foo.

. ATI'ORNEYS.

/ wmwm June. 12, 1945. c. w. MlNTON 2,373,316

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Aug. 12. 1942 a Sheets-Sheetv INVENTOR.

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AT TORNEY5.

June 12, 1945. c. w. MINTON 2,378,316

mcnnm FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Aug. 12, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet BINVENTOR.

C/anznceW M'rawaxl- ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 12, 1945 MACHINE FOR- PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Clarence W.Minton, Nashville, Tenn., assignor to Hold Stitch Fabric MachineCompany. Nashville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application August12, 1942, Serial No. 454,596

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in seamless knitted stockings;particularly in a machine for the knitting of the same.

The rimary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedmachine for the knitting of generally such type of fabric as set forthin my co-pending application Serial Number 416,746 filed October 27,1941, wherein wale lines in certain areas of the fabric are knitted of aless length than adjacent wale lines whereby to produce a novelty effectAfurther object of this invention is the provision of a machine for theknitting of fabric wherein certain wale lines are produced of stitcheswhich tend to pucker the fabric in adjacent wale areas; this effectbeing produced by holding certain stitches upon the needles of theknitting machine while continuing the knitting of the tubular fabric fora predetermined number of courses and floating the yarn from thesecourses behind the needles whereon the-stitches are being held, and thensubsequently resuming knitting upon the needles whereon the stitcheswere first held, for the purpose of producing pleasing designs andeffects in the fabric.

Otherobjects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthruout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved knitting machine.

Figure 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of

the improved knittingmachine, showing the operating mechanism.

Figure 5 is a developed view of the needle and jack arrangement of theknitting machine.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the knitting machine.

Figure '7 is an enlarged view of a jack actuating cam block mechanism. K

Figure 8 shows the actuating mechanism for a jack plunger cam controldrum.

Figure 9 shows a different position of anism of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view showing a section of the the mechimproved fabricknitted after the general method tobe hereinafter described, and whereinat oer-- tain areas the wale lines have been shortened to pull out ofnormal alignment horizontal striped efiects so as to present pleasingdesign effects in the fabric.

Figure 11 is a side elevation specific type of fabriclmitted upon theset-up of the machine herein described.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of a section of'a third type of fabricknitted in accordance with this invention.

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the fabricshown in Figure 10 with certain wale lines cut away at the locationwhere the normal horizontal striped eiiects are pulled out of line, inorder to disclose the location at which the yarn is floated rearwardlyof such cut wale lines.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13, but showing certaincharacteristic features of the type of fabric of Figure'll. l

Figure 15 is likewise a view similar to Figure 13, but showing certaincharacteristic features in the structure of the fabric of Figure 12. P

In the'drawings, wherein for the .purpose of illustration is shown onlya preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generallydesignate the improved knitting machine which may include a framestructure B- cylinder C, means D to operate the cylinder; a set ofneedles E and a set of jacks F.. The letters H, K and L respectivelydesignate the characteristic fabrics of Figures 10,11 and 12, but it isto be under? stood that a wide variety of designs of fabric and will notbe described herein, other than to refer to them as the means D. Thismeans D includes as one of the parts thereof a conventional "104" geardesignated at 23 in Figure 2 of the drawings and elsewhere.

The machine furthermore includes a shaft 24 having riglit and left drumsK and L thereon for controlling certain levers to be subsequentlydescribed. At the rear of the machine there is provided a conventionalshaft 26 which has a horizontal striper drum M thereon for a purpose tobe subsequently described.

of a section of the The cams 3I-42 are provided with individual springs43 normally urging the cams inward into butt obstruction with the jacks,These plunger cams 3I-42 are actuated by means of individual levers 44pivoted upon a supporting post 45 by a shaft 46. This is shown in Figure4 of the drawings. There the levers 44 areshown as having reduced endsoperating in sockets 41 of the individual plunger cams. The levers 44are controlled oil' of an intermittently operated drum 41 levers, forthe purpose of blocking out any of the individual cams 3 I-42.

In addition, means is provided for simultaneously throwing the entireset of cams in the block 30' out of action. This means consists of alever 82 pivoted at the bottom of the post 45, upon the rotatablymounted upon shaft 48. The levers 44 may be moved for withdrawing theplungers 3I-42 against their normal spring action so that they will beout of the path of the jack butts. In Figure 4 it is shown that thelevers 44 are provided with end extensions 49 adapted to be engaged bycertain detachable projections or pins or other means 50 placed upon thedrum 41 in a selected arrangement. It isto be noted that the drum 41' isprovided with these pins in position to only operate two of the jackplunger cams. The drum'may be provided with any suitable means, such asscrew threaded openings for receiving the detachable lever operatingstuds or pins 50 in any position around the circumference thereof foreach one'of ing members 44.

The means for intermittent rotation of the the cam plunger operatdrum41. is shown in Figures 4, 8 and 9 of the drawings. This drum isprovided with a ratchet 55 controlled by. means of a pawl 56 pivoted at51 upon a lever extension 60. The latter is mounted upon a disc 6|oscillatable upon the shaft 48 as an axis. A spring 62 normally holdsthe pawl in position to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 55, asshown in Figure 9 of the drawings. The extension 60 has a connecting rod63 which is pivoted at 64, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings,upon the upper end of a lever 65.. The latter ispivoted at 66 vupon theframe of the machine and is in position to be operated by means of lugs61 positioned upon the 104 wheel 23. The lugs 51 for this particularset-up, are positioned at 180 apart upon the wheel 23, so that the drum4! is advanced two tooth notches of the pawl wheel for each fullrotation of 104 wheel 23. Inasmuch as the 104 wheel rotates once for.each'four revolutions of the knitting machine cylinder,as is well knownto those skilled in theiart to which this invention relates, it canreadily be understood that the drum will move one notch for each twoknitted courses.

The means for throwing the pawl 56 out of action consists of a camextension I0 mounted upon As shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings,

screwstll are provided on the post 45 on which the levers 44 aremounted, for each one of these pin 46 having its forward end extendinglaterally of the levers 44 and there provided with a vertically disposedrod or member 85, shown best in Figures 4 and 7 of the drawings. The rod85 is supported at its upper end upon a lever 86 pivoted upon the pin46. Movement of the lever 82 will move the rod 85 against the forwardends of the levers 44 and by pressing thereagainst the cams 3I-42 notalready blocked out by the screws so can be thrown out of action. Thelever 82 has a connecting rod 89, shown best in Figures 2 and 4 of thedrawings pivoted rearwardly upon a bell crank lever 90. The latter ispivoted at 9| and its opposite end has a connecting rod 92 pivoted uponthe rear end of a lever 93. The latter is mounted upon a shaft 94 andcontrolled off of the cam drum L, in a manner which is perfectlyapparent. It is entirely possible to recess some of the levers 44 wherethe rod 85 operates thereagainst, so that certain of these levers 44will not be affected by throwingout of the other levers thru operationof the lever. 82.

It is contemplated that certain of the levers 44 need not be operatedofi of the drum 41. To that end certain of these levers 44 may haveextensions 95, as shown in Figure 4 to which rods or wires 96 may beconnected, The latter at their rear ends may be pivoted to certain bellcrank levers 91. These bell crank levers may be mounted upon a block atan axis 99 and they are operated by means of rods I 00 pivoted uponcertain fingers IllI, shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. Thesefingers or members If are operated off of the horizontal striper drum Mabove mentioned.

Certain others of the levers 44 are adapted to be operated off of thecam drum K at the right hand side of the machine. To that end, 'suchlevers 44 as are operated off of the drum K, may be provided withpivoted lever extensions I I15. They have connecting rods I01, as shownin Figure 4 of the drawings, pivoted in turn to the upper ends ofcertain bell crank levers I09,

shown best in Figure 3 of the drawings. The opposite ends of such bellcrank levers I09 are connected by means of rods Ho with certain leversIII pivoted on the shaft 19 and operating oil of the drum K.

The knitting machine may be provided with a conventional main yarnfeeding set-up and also an auxiliary yarn feeding set-up for the purposeof accomplishing different varieties of work. In the particular exampleof this application, the main feed knitting station may be provided withone or more yarn feed fingers I20 and I20 shown in Figure 5 of thedrawings, and at the auxiliary feed station one or more yarn feedfingers I2I may be provided. This yarn feed finger I2I may be used forfeeding Lastex to the needles.

At the auxiliary feeding station of the knitting machine, as shown inFigures 2 4 and 5 of the drawings, a cam plunger block I23 is provided,having plunger cams I24 and I25 slidably mounted therein and normallyspring urged at I26, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, into buttactuating position with the jacks of the cylinder. Levers I21 arepivoted at I28 upon the machine and by means of rods I29 operated oil ofcertain levers I30 pivoted on the pin 94, and operating off of the drumL abovedescribed.

While the machine of the present application has been shown as set upfor the knitting of the type of fabric K shown in Figures 11 and 14, itis to be understood that thru different cam and lever control patternset-ups; the machine may knit many other types of novelty seamlessfabric than that disclosed at H, K and L.

The cycle of operation will be described in con- 10 nection with thenovelty pattern K shown in Figures 11 and,14. In this connection itshould be borne in mind that the principal features of the methodconsist in feeding a yarn to predetermined groups of needles of theknitting machine for a 15 predetermined number of courses; then holdingsaid yarn upon the needles and upon other groups of needles feedinganother yarn, preferably of contrasting color, for a predeterminednumber of courses; then resuming feeding of the first mentioned yarn incertain areas while holding the second yarn upon needles upon whichpreviously fed, and continuing the knitting in this fashion. The meansfor holding the stitches and manipulating the needles and stitches issuch, that the stitches in certain areas and upon certain needles willbe drawn rather long so that when knitting is resumed certain stitchesin the wale lines will be drawn out of proportion and thusproduce apuckered effect at the areas behind which the yarns are floated asaforesaid.

- The set of needles E is of course divided into a set of long buttneedles and a set of short butt needles. The butts shown in black arethe long butts. The usual cam set-up is provided except insofar asmodified in the showing of Figure 5. For the purpose of this invention ahold stitch cam-I is provided for lowering theneedles to a low point sothat the stitches will be hung over the top of the cylinder and duringthe holding of 40 the stitches when knitting is performed upon certainneedles the stitches will be lengthened in the wale lines. The cams MIand I42 operate together off conventional operating mechanism I BI shownin Figure 1 of the drawings. The cams in the block 30 of course elevatethe jacks 'and by reason thereof, the proper needles for taking thedesired yarn. ,The stitch cam I43 of course lowers these needlesinconventional manner.

For the knitting of the fabric K shown in Figures 11 and 14 of thedrawings, the cams 33, 35 and 31 are used. The cam 33 operates upon thebutts I36 in certain groups of jacks shown in Figure 5, for elevatingthe needles thereabove; the cam 35 operates upon the groups of butts I31for elevating'the needles thereabove, and the cam 31, which is heldcontantly in place during knitting of the leg, by its spring, operatesupon typical groups of butts I38 for elevating the needles there- 0above.

- In the fabric K shown in Figures 11 and 14, let us say that the whiteand brown yarns are alternately fed to the needles which take said yarnfor sixteen courses each. The pattern set-up is 5 such that at all timesduring knitting of the leg where the novelty effect is to be producedthecam 31 will remain in to engage the butts I38 for elevating the jacksand the needles thereabove. The areas designated at I50 in Figure 11 ofthe drawings, designate the wale lines which are knitted upon theneedles above the jacks having" the butts I36 which are adapted to beengaged by the cam 33. Assuming the white yarn I35 to be feeding yarn tothe needles, the cams 33 and 31 will be in place and elevate all of theneedles above the jack butts I36 and I38. During this knitting theneedles above the jacks having groups of butts I3I will be out of actionand holding the yarn stitches which have previously beenlowered by thehold stitch cam I40. The white yarn is fed for sixteen courses to theseneedles above the jackgroups I36 and I38 and this yarn is floated behindthe needles above the group of jack butts I31 and of course thistogether with the fact that the hold stitch cam I40 had'lowered thestitches over the top of the cylinder sufllciently, imposes a strainupon these-stitches and causes them to lengthen at this location whichis designated at the brown yarn areas I52 in Figure ll of the drawings.After the sixteen courses have been knitted, the cam 33 is withdrawn andthe cam 35 goes into action upon the butts I31. The cam 31 remains inplace to still elevate the needles above the jacks having butts I38. Of

course the mechanism for the yarn feed fingers I20I20 goes into actionand throws the white yarn finger I20 out of place and the brown yarnfinger I20 into action for feeding the brown yarn to these needles. Theaction has-thus been reversed with respect to the groups of needlesactuated off of the cam plungers 33 and 35 and the white yarn is nowheld upon the needles above the jacks having butts I36 and for sixteencourses the brown yarn is fed to the needles above the jacks havingbutts I3'I-I38.- By' reason of the strain imposed upon the stitchesincident to the floating of the brown yarn back of the needles uponwhich the white yarn is held and also because of the strain imposed uponthe stitches by reason of the lowering of the needles by thehold stitchcam I40 over the top of the cylinder, the white yarn stitches will belengthened at the areas indicated at I50 in Figure 11 of the drawings.This Produces the novelty puckered effect in the fabric, since thestitchesin the wale lines at-the areas I50 and I52 are rendered taut. Itis obvious under such circumstances that the entire sixteen course floatportions of one yarn float back of the other yarns knitted at theseareas I50 and I52, as

the case may be, and become puckered due to the tautness of the stitchesat these areas I50I52. The length of the sixteen courses, walewise isindicated at X in Figure 14 of the drawings;

In Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings the lugs 50 operate upon the lever 44controlling the cam plunger 33 and the lugs 50 operate on the lever 44controlling the cam plunger 35. Obviously any pattern set-up may bearranged for the knitting of any desired number of courses with eachzontal striped courses out of horizontal alignment at these points. Inthe knitting ofthis particular design six courses of white yarn may be'knitted at I62 and thereafter two courses of the red yarn designated atI63. Thereafter substantially all of the needles of the machine exceptthose at the location I60 receive a blue yarn designated at I64 forapredetermined number of courses, say sixteen. The needles holding thered yarn atthe area I60 will of course have been lowered by the holdstitch cam I40 and the stitches held thereon will be lengthened and ren-This is given to the of these lowered needles, and after the knitting ofthe sixteen courses additional stitches may be knitted in the wale linesat the areas I60, if desired, altho such is not necessary. The stitcheswill be lengthened, by reason of being tautly drawn during the knittingof the blue stitches and the fact that the hold stitch cam hasexceptionally lowered these stitches on the cylinder. Regular knittingmay then be resumed upon the needles of the machine, providing atwo-course red yarn at I66 and a subsequent six course white yarndesignated at I61. It will be noted that the white yarn stripes and redyarn stripes which would ordinarily be horizontal are thus drawn out oflocation to produce the diamond effect shown in the fabric of Figure 10.

In Figure 13 it will be noted that certain stitches forming the walelines at the areas I60 have been cut to expose the float portions of theblue yarn and to show how the white and red yarns will then be drawn outhorizontally into normal position. For this fabric H it will be notedfrom Figure that other shortened wale line areas llill may be providedin the fabric, which in the fabric H isa blue yarn in duplication of theabove described procedure while knitting sixteen courses of the blueyarn to provide the areas I51. It will be noted that the fabric in theWale lines formed of the blue yarn adjacent the areas I60 and llill willbe puckered.

Referring to the type of fabric L shown in Figures 12 and 15 of thedrawings, I knit two courses of a red yarn, shown at I10; ten courses ofa blue yarn shown at Ill and then two courses of a white yarn shown atI12. At certain points the blue yarn is floated behind stitches of thered yarn held upon certain needles during the knitting of the tencourses of the blue yarn I'll and these stitches held upon these needlesare .engthened by reason of being held stitches at such an area asdesignated at I13. This bulges the entire area of blue yarn Ill"adjacent the hold stitch locations. The areas designated at I II willhave a normally fiat appearance and the areas designated at I'll will ofcourse bulge.

This will also be the case at additional areas such as III". In Figure15 the hold stitches at I13 .have been severed to show that the yarn isfloated at I80. This view also shows the red and white yarns I10 and I12normally drawn out horizontally upon the severing of such hold stitches.

It is a matter of choice to produce puckered and striped effects, sincethe needle, jack and cam set-ups may be varied at will to providediiferent designs and patterns. Likewise, the number of courses ofsitches in the pull wale line areas wherein the lengthened hold stitchesmay be varied in number and length.

It is not necessary to knit the stocking out of a plurality of colors,since a solid colored yarn may be used thruout the stocking and thebulged and-puckered effects still, produced as herein deuse of elasticyarn.

Wherever the terminology floating the yarn back of needles at the holdstitch locations or terminology of similar meaning is used, it isintended to broadly cover the floating of yarn at such locations,whether actuallyfloated back of the needles or back of the axes of theneedles extended, by reason of said needles being lowered.

Various changes in the steps of the method of producing the improvedfabric and the designs selected, as well as in the arrangement ofinstrumentalities by which the fabric is formed, may be-made to theinvention as herein shown and described, without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a circular stocking knitting machine having a, needle cylinder, aseries of needles, a series of jacks therefor, means for dividing theneedles feeding station for feeding a yarn to certain of said groups fora predetermined mimber of successive courses, means for feeding-anotheryarn from said main yarn feeding station to other groups for a,predetermined number of successive courses while holding the individualstitches of the first mentioned yarn on the first mentioned groupsofneedles which receive the first yarn and floating the second yarn backof the needles holding .the stitches of the said first yarn, and meansfor reversing and repeating the cycle of feeding said yarn or yarns tosaid groups of needles.

2. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a cylinder, a setof needles therefor, a main yarn feeding station for feeding yarn topredetermined groups of needles and after the knitting of one or morecourses upon said needles holding the stitches of said yarn thereon,means for thereafter feeding other yarn from said yarn feeding stationto another group or groups of needles for a plurality of successivecourses while holding the first mentioned yarn upon the needles of thefirst mentioned group and floating the second mentioned yarn back of theneedles holding said first mentioned yarn, means for thereafter holdingthe second yarn on certain needles upon which stitches are provided andthereafter resuming knitting of the first yarn while floating the firstyarn back of the needles holding the second yarn.

3. The method of knitting yarn in novelty effects upon a seamlessstocking knitting machine having a plurality of independent needleswhich consists in selectively feeding yarn from a single yarn feedstation to predetermined groups of recurrent needles for a predeterminednumber of successive courses, thereafter lowering said needies andfeeding a second and contrasting yarn to other predetermined groups ofrecurrent needles while holding the stitches of the first mentioned yarnon the first mentioned groups and stretching the stitches thereof byfloating the second yarn back of the needles holding said stitches, andrepeating the cycle of knitting said yarns upon the said groups ofneedles above mentioned.

4. A circular stocking knitting machine comprising a rotary cylinder, 9,set of independent needles therefor, a set of independent jackstherefor, means for feeding a plurality of contrasting yarns to saidneedles at amain yarn feed station, stitch cam mechanism for knittingyarn upon said needles, a plurality of cams in advance of the stitch cammechanism for actuating said jacks to selectively actuatesaid needles,pattern mechanism for selectively operating said jack cams, said jackshaving butts thereon for dividing the needles into predeterminedrecurrent groups upon actuation by said jack actuating cams, pattern ofthe needles upon whic means for feeding one yarn to certain of saidgroups of needles for the knitting of a predetermined number ofcoursesfa hold stitch cam for lowering said needles after saidpredetermined number of -.courses for holding the stitches on theneedles of the said groups, means thereafter one of said yarnswhile-knitting upon the remaining needles for a predetermined number ofsuccessive courses, another contrasting yarn while floating the lastmention (1 yarn at the location said stitches are being held, and meansfor subsequently resuming knitting upon all of said needles so that inthe fabcolor continuity of the knitting in the tubular fabric.

' 9. In a circular stocking knitting machine the combination of acircular line of independent needles, a single feed station for feedinga plurality of yarns to said needles, means for selectively manipulatingcertain groups of needles whereby at certain zones in the fabric beingknitted one yarn is fed to said groups of needles at said zones, meansfor lowering said groups of needles aforesaid to which yarn has thusbeen fed and holding the yarn stitches thereon, means to subsequentlyfeed yarn to other groups of needles for x a plurality of courses andfloating the same at ric adjacent the location of said held stitches thefabric will be puckereda 6. In a stocking knitting machine the combination of a circular line of independent needles, means for selectivelymanipulating said needles,

' said zones where the yarn is floated as aforesaid for the feeding ofanother yarn thereto and at the same time rendering inactive the needlesat such zones which receive yarn as first mentioned whereby the secondyarn is floated thereat, and

repeating the feeding of said yarns as aforesaid.

7. In a stocking knitting machine the combination of a circular line ofindependent needles,

. means for manipulating said needles in selected groups for receivingyarn, a main feed station having means for feeding a plurality ofregular stocking forming yarns to said needles, and means for regulatingthe feeding of said yarns to selected groups of needles whereby certainof said yarns knit wale lines thruou-t a greater number of courses thancourses in which the other yarn or yarns form stitches with floatportions of the first mentioned yam floated back of the knitted portionsof the other yarn or yarns whereby to produce puckered effects in thefabric. a a

8. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a circular line ofindependent needles, a main feed station having means for feeding aplurality of yarns to said needles, means for selectively manipulatingthe'needles whereby at certainzones a yarn of one color isfed to saidneedles at said zones, means for lowering said needles to which the yarnhas been fed at said the groups of needles which hold the stitches ofthe first yarn, and means for'continuing and reversing the knitting ofsaid yarns on said groups and the floating thereof where not knitted toprovide afabric having a puckered effect adjacent to the locations wheresaid yarns are floated.

10. The method of knitting yarn in puckered novelty effects upon aseamless stocking knitting machine having a plurality of independentneedles which consist in selectively feeding one yarn to predeterminedgroups of recurrent needles for a predetermined number of successivecourses, thereafter holding said yarn stitches of said yarn on saidneedles and feeding the same yarn or a second yarn to otherpredetermined groups of recurrent needles for a predetermined number ofcourses producing tensioned wale lines of less length than the walelines of the courses first knitted and floating said last mentioned yarnback of the stitches held upon the first mentioned groups of needles,and repeating and reversing the cycle of knitting said yarn or. yarnsupon said groups of needles whereby to provide puckered effects of thefabric adjacent to the locations where said yarns are floated.

11. The method of knitting a seamless stocking which consists in feedingyarn to the independent needles of a circular knitting machine, holdingthe fabric on certain adjacent needles at relatively spaced zones byrendering said needles inactive, feeding a second yarn to theintermediate needles between said zones and knitting the said secondyarn upon said intermediate needles thruout a predetermined number ofcourses while floating-the second yarn at the zones upon which the firstyarn is being held upon the inactive needles and controlling the waleline lengths of the second yarn where knitted over floated zones, meansto elevate the needles at other zones and feed a,contrastingly coloredyarn thereto which is floated at the zones at which the first -yam isfed so as tolie backof the finished fabric, and means for continuing thesuccessive knitting of said yarns in selective arrangement to I theselected needle zones in course regulated numbers whereby atv least oneof the yarns will be fed toits needles in ales's number of courses thantheother yarn so as to disturb the course portions of the firstmentioned yarn, and thereafter resuming knitting of the yarns wherebythe controlled wale line lengths over the floated portions of the firstmentioned yarn will be tautly drawn and shorter than the adjacent waleline lengths whereby to forwardly pucker the fabric thereat.

12 The method of knitting seamless tubular stockings upon a circularknitting machine having independent needles which consists in feeding ayarn to the needles of the machine to provide a normally horizontalstriped effect of the yarn, holding certain portions of the yarn uponcertain needles rendered inactive and thereafter knitting anintermediate contrasting knitted area upon the independent activeneedles over a predetermined number of courses, and subsequentlyknitting wale lines of shorter length than the wale lines of the lastmentioned yarn upon the inactive needles upon which the first mentionedyarn is being held whereby to draw what would be normal horizontalstripes out of the horizontal line.

13. In a circular stocking knitting machine the combination of a rotarycylinder, a set of independently operated needles mounted in thecylinder, a yarn feeding station, means for feeding a yarn therefrom tocertain predetermined recurrent needles of a set of vneedles andknitting yarn thereon thruout one or more courses, means for thereafterlowering the said predetermined needles with the yarn stitches. heldthereon, means for thereafter feeding the same or other yarn from saidyarn feeding station to other recurrent needles of the needle set whilefloating the said last mentioned yam atthe locations where the yarnfirst mentioned is held on the first men than the adjacent wale linelengths of the first mentioned knitted yarn, and means for reversing andrepeating the cycle of feeding the yarn or yarns aforesaid whereby topresent in the fabric 0 puckered effects adjacent to the yarn whichprovides the shorter Wale line lengths.

v CLARENCE W. MINTON.

